Railway appliance operating mechanism



Sept. 30, 1969 a. E. HAYES RAILWAY APPLIANCE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed May 4, 1966 A 7'TOR/VEYS United States Patent RAILWAY APPLIANCE OPERATING MECHANISM Brice E. Hayes, Richmond, Ind., assignor to Hayes Track Appliance Company, Richmond, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed May 4, 1966, Ser. No. 547,531 Int. Cl. B611 19/02; E01b 7/00; B61k /00 US. Cl. 246-163 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An operating assembly moves a sliding derail or other device between positions. Rotary movement of the drive shaft of an electric motor produces reciprocal movement of an actuating element connected to the device bymeans of a motion translating means including a screw and a nut assembly movably axially on the screw and capable of free wheeling on the screw. The motor is resiliently secured within a housing including a tubular support for a tubular reciprocally driven element connected to the actuating element. The motion translating means is reversible and the actuating means can be operated manually and without declutching. Stop members limit the range of movement of the actuating element, and limit switches control the energization of the motor.

The present invention relates to operating mechanisms for movable railway appliances and, more particularly, to a new and improved electric motor operating mechanism that can be used for various appliances and which has been found to be well adapted for operating derails of the type known as sliding derails.

Railway appliances such as derails have been utilized by the railroads for many decades with but little change or improvement in their mode of operation. This has been particularly true of derails which, while used for a long time, are still to a great extent manually operated as by operating stands or through outmoded pipelines. Some of the appliances have been changed over to electrical operation, but the operating mechanisms have been complicated by the use of expensive gearing, clutches and safety devices. In some instances railroads have equipped themselves with elaborate mechanisms for operating derails but these, like the other mechanisms referred to, have been complicated and so costly that they have not found any widespread acceptance.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive electrically operable mechanism for operating railway appliances, such as derails between limit positions between their active detailing and inactive positions, which mechanism is simple but rugged in construction and which can be easily installed and attached to existing appliances to operate them.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved appliance operating mechanism of a type which can be characterized as including a direct drive between the motor and appliance thereby to simplify the construction, make it more rugged and reliable, and so that it can be made at a fraction of the cost of presently available mechanisms for operating railway appliances.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved appliance operating mechanism comprising an electric motor, means of a direct drive type for translating the rotary movement of the motor driven shaft into reciprocating movement of the derail actuating means and in which the motor and the movement translating means are constructed and arranged to provide an inexpensive, compact and rugged operating mechanism.

A further object of the present invention is to provide Ice an operating mechanism of the character set forth in the preceding paragraph including a motor driven reciprocable tube adapted operatively to be connected to a railway appliance and mounted within an elongated tubular support mounted, in turn, upon a housing for the motor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a railway operating mechanism comprising movement translating means of the free wheeling type between the motor and derail so that the motor is effectively declutched from the drive and appliance at predetermined limit positions.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an operating mechanism of the type set forth above in which the motor is resiliently supported at one end and by a roller type of support at its opposite end whereby starting and stopping shocks are absorbed and wear on the drive is minimized by reduction of lateral thrust.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a motor operated mechanism for operating a railway appliance in which the drive connection between the motor and appliance is such that the appliance may be operated manually should need arise for manual operation, as in the case of a power failure or the like.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of axial thrust absorbing means in the drive system so constructed and arranged that when used the motor need not be provided with more costly built-in axial thrust absorbing means.

In brief, the operating mechanism of the present invention includes a rotary electric motor, movement translating means for changing directly the rotary movement of the motor into reciprocating motion and a reciprocable connecting rod connected to and operating an appliance such as a slidable derail block. The drive is of the direct type as well as of the free wheeling type in order that the motor will be declutched from the driven apparatus at predetermined limits of movement. The motor and movement translating means are mounted in a housing containing an inwardly extending tubular support for a tubular reciprocably driven element connected to the derail operating connecting rod. The motor is resiliently secured to the housing at one end and its opposite end is movably supported as upon a roller whereby undesired lateral movement and thrust upon the movement translating means is minimized, thereby to lengthen the life of the mechanism. The position of the derail is indicated by a target operatively connected to the derail connecting rod. In the event of power failure, the derail may be operated manually through the target, this being possible by use of a movement translating means that is reversible in character.

Other object and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description of illustrative embodiments thereof, in the course of which reference is had to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a derail operating mechanism embodying the invention and an associated derail, showing the two mounted on adjacent ties;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken along the broken line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of an axial thrust bearing arrangement that may be interposed between the motor and the movement translating means to enable use of a motor not provided with special built-in axial thrust absorbing means.

Referring now to the drawing and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the railway appliance operating mechanism of the present invention is indicated as a whole by reference character 10. It comprises a housing 11 mounted by bracket type supports 11S upon a pair of adjacent railway ties 12 to which a rail 14 is secured. The second of the two rails of the railway track is not shown inasmuch as the appliance, illustrated as a derail and indicated as a whole by reference character 16, is utilized only in association with a single rail.

The derail 16 that has been illustrated is known as a sliding derail and may be constructed and arranged as disclosed in Patent No. 2,829,246-Hayes, granted Apr. 1, 1958. Insofar as an understanding of the present invention is concerned, it is deemed sufficient to note that the derail includes a stationary guide box 20 secured to the ties and a slidable derail block 22 to the upper outer end of which, i.e., the end nearest the rail, is secured a derail shoe 24. The derail shoe is illustrated in its active derail position in FIGS. 1 and 2, in which the shoe 24 overlies the top of the rail and, in known manner, effects derailing of a car wheel by an angularly disposed deflecting bar 26.

The slidably mounted derail block 22, like many railway appliances, is movable between two positions. In the case of a derail, these are the illustrated active derailing position and an inactive position in which the derail shoe 24 is off the rail 14. Movement of the derail block is effected through a downwardly extending lug 28 (see FIG. 2) located at the end of the derail block. The block usually has two of these lugs and, if desired, the second but not illustrated lug may be utilized for actuating a switch or switches, which may be utilized, for example, to provide indication of the derail Position at a remote location.

The position of the derail, i.e., active or inactive, is indicated visually by a derail target stand illustrated as a whole by reference character 30 having target vanes 32 attached to a rotatable staff 34 and which forms no part of the present invention except for modification thereof to permit manual operation of the derail, as in the event of power failure. The staff is rotatably mounted in a target support 36 secured to the upper side of the housing 11, the stall? being maintained in desired vertical position by means including a collar 38 welded to and rotating with the staff. The lower end of the staff is connected by an arm 40 (see FIG. 3) to a screw jaw 42, one end of which is connected to a bent target operating rod 44. Rod 44 is connected at its opposite end to a derail operating or connecting rod 46 by a pivotal connection comprising a vertical pin 48 mounted on a collar 50 secured to a screw jaw 52 to which an end of the derail connecting rod 46 is secured. The connection of the other end of connecting rod 46 to the dependent lug 28 of the derail block is through a screw jaw 54 pivotally connected to the lug through a horizontal pin 55.

In order to enable the derail to be operated manually in the event of power failure or the like, the target staff collar 38 is provided with an opening 56 for the reception of a bar 57 (see FIG. 3) so that it and the staff 34 may be turned manually. When the foregoing are turned, the rod 44 is reciprocated by movement of the arm 40 and reciprocation of rod 44 effects, in turn, reciprocation of the derail connecting rod 46 thereby to effect movement of the derail block 22.

The appliance operating mechanism 10, in accordance with a primary feature of the present invention, includes a direct drive between the electric motor 60 mounted within the housing 11 and the movable derail block. The direct drive includes a movement translating means 62 directly changing rotary into reciprocating movement, and vice versa. In other words the arrangement is reversible, this being necessary to enable the derail block to be moved manually. The translating means is capable directly to change rotary movement of the motor shaft 64 into reciprocating movement of an elongated tubular driven element 66, one end of which projects outside the end wall 11A of the housing where it is connected by a coupling element 68 to an end of the screw jaw 52 through .4 a pivotal joint comprising a horizontal pin 52A associated with jaw 52. The drive is substantially coaxial and the connections are axially or longitudinally rigid and direct, although the pivotal connections provide the necessary tolerances for simple installation.

In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the tubular driven element 66 is reciprocally mounted within a fairly long tubular support 70 fixedly secured to the end wall 11A of the housing. Movement of element 66 is facilitated by spaced bearings 72 mounted wthin support 70 and encircling element 66. The support 70 may be secured to the end wall 11A, as by an annular retainer element 74 aflixed to the support and to the end wall. The portion of the tubular element 66 which projects beyond the end wall 11A normally and when further projected during movement of the derail block to its inactive position is protected by a flexible and expansible boot 76 connected to the housing and to portion 68 of the drive.

The movement translating means 62 provides a direct drive and translation of rotary into reciprocating movement in a simple manner. It may be of known type such as the Roton and of which a further description may be obtained from United States Patent No. 3,099,168 and others issued to The Anderson Company, a corporation of Indiana. This type of drive includes a rotatable screw 80 with double threads and rigidly coupled at one end to the motor shaft 64 through a coupling element 82 and a reciprocable mating nut assembly 84 fixedly secured to the tubular driven element 66. The limit positions of the nut assembly are determined by spaced apart pins 86 extending through the screw 80 and which are adapted to be engaged by detents 88 at opposite sides of the nut assembly 84. The movement translating means is of such character that when the nut assembly is stopped by engagement of one or the other of pins 86 with one of the detents 88, further axial movement of the nut assembly 84 and, thus of the driven tube 66 and parts connected to the latter is prevented and the apparatus free wheels, i.e., the motor continues to turn but is effectively declutched from the driven parts beyond the screw.

The movement translating means 62 is reversible in character and it is this reversibility that enables the derail to be operated manually as described above and without the use of complicated clutches and the like. The reversibility is achieved by the relationship between the mating nut assembly and the screw shaft 80, which is such that rotation of the shaft and screw 80 results in axial movement of the nut assembly 84 and the driven tube 66 and such that axial movement of the tube 66 when the derail is manually operated effects rotation of the screw and motor shaft.

The motor 60, in accordance with a further feature of the present invention, is supported at one end from housmg wall 113 in resilient manner by pairs of opposed springs 90 at opposite sides of a motor supporting plate 92, supported as by four bolts 94 at the corners of the support 92. This construction, coupled with the support of the opposite end of the motor by roller means 98, one or more, not only supports the drive resiliently for shock absorption but it prevents undesired lateral or downward thrust from being applied to the screw. The arrangement has been found simple, inexpensive and effective and to contribute greatly to the life of the apparatus. The roller means 98 is secured to a mounting plate 99 secured to the motor in vertically adjustable position as by four bolts 99A through slots (not shown) in the plate.

Considerable axial thrust loads are encountered in operation and provision therefor should be made in the motor bearings. However, should it be desired to use a motor of conventional construction provisions may be made for absorbing the axial thrust in the drive beyond the motor shaft. An arrangement of this type is illustrated in FIG. 4.

where a jack shaft 100 is illustrated interposed between the motor shaft 64 and the screw shaft 80. The latter is rigidly coupled by coupling member 102 to the jack shaft while the latter is connected by a flexible coupling 104 to the motor shaft. The jack shaft is supported on a base plate 106, which may be secured to the bottom wall of the housing 11, carrying a pair of spaced apart upwardly extending bearing supports 108. The latter are provided with bearings of known type and not shown. At the inner side of each support is placed a thrust bearing 110 so as to be engageable by the opposite ends of a central larger diameter portion 112 of the jack shaft, whereby the axial thrust is transmitted to the bearing supports 108 and base plate 106 rather than to the bearings of the motor.

The apparatus may be provided with suitable and conventional controls for controlling the energization of the motor. Such a control could include a pair of position limit switches 114 and 116 adapted to be operated by a switch actuating collar 118 mounted on the end of the reciprocating tube 66 within the housing. The control may also be of the push button type so that the apparatus may be started in operation by momentary closing of one or the other of two push buttons after which the motor will remain energized until one or the other "of the limit switches 114 or 116 is opened. The position limit switches are preferably so located that they are actuated to open position a couple of screw turns before one of the detents 88 engages one of the pins 86 and before final movement of the block to its limit position. The final movement of the latter is effected by gravity and momentum. A stop switch may also be provided.

The apparatus of the present invention may be readily constructed as evidenced by the foregoing vdetailed description. The fabrication and assembly are simple, as is the installation upon new or existing tracks for operation of newly installed or existing appliances. When provided with push button controls all that is necessary to effect movement of the derail from one position to another is the energization of the motor as by operation of a push button switch. When the motor is energized its shaft 64 turns the screw 80 and the latter effects axial movement of the nut assembly 84. The latter in turn effects movement of the derail block through the tube 66, the coupling 68, the screw 52, connecting rod 46, screw 54 and the dependent lug 28 of the derail block. The drive is simple and direct with no clutches included in it.

When the nut assembly reaches a limit position determined by engagement of a detent 88 with a pin 86, axial movement of the assembly is terminated but, as earlier explained, the motor shaft and screw 80 may rotate. As also explained earlier, the motor is preferably de-energized by one of the position limit switches prior to termination of movement of the nut assembly.

It should be noted further that the drive mechanism is built as a complete assembly substantially all of which is housed within the housing 11 and that the housing is adapted easily and simply to be installed in place. The connection to the appliance, a derail in the illustrated case, is effected through connecting rods and the like, which are not likely to cause any trouble over a long period of time and which are not likely to be adversely aifected by the severest kind of weather conditions.

The position of the derail is indicated by the target 30, the vanes of which are moved by rotation of the staff. In the event of power failure or when desired, manual operation can be effected by a bar inserted into the opening 56 in the staff collar 58 whereby the staff can be turned to eifect reciprocating movement of the rods 44 and 46 and driven element 66. No declutching or the like is necessary as the reciprocation of tube merely results in rotation of the screw and motor shaft.

In the event it is desired to-provide axial thrust absorption means other than in the motor, the alternative arrangement of FIG. 4 with thrust absorption provided by a jack shaft and associated bearings can be used.

While the present invention has been described in connection with the details of an illustrative embodiment, these details are not intended to be limitative of the invention except insofar as set forth in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An operating mechanism for devices such as railway appliances, including in combination a housing, an actuating element mounted for reciprocal nonrotating movement with respect to said housing and adapted to be connected to the device for operating the device between dilferent positions, an electric motor having a rotatable drive shaft disposed in substantially coaxial align-ment with said actuating element, and movement translating means interconnecting the motor shaft and actuating element, said translating means comprising a tube fixedly secured to said housing, an elongated tube coaxial with and connected to said actuating element and mounted for reciprocation in said fixedly secured tube, a screw secured to said drive shaft, and nut means threadedly engaging said screw and connected to said elongated tube for movement of said nut means axially along said screw in response to rotation of said drive shaft for changing the rotary movement of said screw into reciprocation of said elongated tube.

2. An operating mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the translating means is of the free wheeling type in which axial movement of the nut means is terminated at predetermined limit positions relative to the screw while the motor shaft and screw may continue to rotate.

3. An operating mechanism as claimed in claim 1, said housing adapted to be mounted between and supported upon adjacent ties.

4. An operating mechanism as claimed in claim 3, in which the motor is resiliently secured at one end to an end wall of said housing and is movably supported by the housing at its opposite end.

5. An operating mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein an end of said elongated tube movably projects outside of the housing and a flexible boot is provided between said projecting end and the housing.

6. An operating mechanism for devices as claimed in claim 1, wherein said translating means is of the reversible type, i.e., adapted to change rotary into reciprocating and reciprocating into rotary movement.

7. An operating mechanism as claimed in claim 1, including a drive connection with axial thrust absorbing means interposed between said screw and motor shaft, said drive connection being coupled to said shaft by a flexible coupling and to said translating means by a rigid coupling.

8. An operating mechanism as claimed in claim 7, in which said drive connection includes a jack shaft with an enlarged central portion and opposed spaced thrust bearings engageable by said portion.

9. The operating mechanism of claim 1, a pair of stop members operably engageable with said nut means for limiting the reciprocal movement of said nut means, a pair of limit switches for controlling the energization of said electric motor, and means reciprocally movable with said nut means for operating said limit switches shortly prior to engagement of said nut means with said stop members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,201,206 10/1916 Lewis 104-449 531,130 12/ 1 894 Moderegger 246-242 837,930 12/1906 Hayes 246163 892,136 6/1908 Covey 246-163 (Other references on following page) UNITED 7 8 STATES PATENTS 3,099,168 7/1963 Martfins 74-459 Sloderbeck 3,277,736 10/1966 Goodman 74-459 XR Sloderbeck 246-163 Estes 246 163 DRAYTON E. HOFFMAN, Pnmary Examlner Fernekes 246-242 5 Us Cl XR Stacey 248-45 104-262; 246-430 

